Automatic variable-speed transmission



t. 4 1927. 1,644,614 Oc s. E. sANDr-:RsoN y AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SPEEDTRANSMISSION Filed April 7, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Q,

Z9 j E 30 7 k k [l1 'n 7g l 13 z2 n 2 29 55 27 .i 48 47 INVENTOR ATTOR NEY WITNESS:

oct. 4, 1927.

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed April '7. 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 2 S-E S an eraan INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1927., 1,644,614

S. E. SANDERSON AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed April '7.1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .S EL Sendersoz ,NVENTQR 4Z ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

SAMUEL E. SANDERSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC 'VARIABLE-SPEED TRANSMISSION.

Application led April 7, 1926. Serial No. 100,377.

This invention relates to variable speed transmission mechanisms and hasfor an object the provision of a reversible, variable speed mechanism,by means of which change of s eed between a drive and driven shaft mayeefected without disengagingaclutch, or interferin with the transmissionof power while t e change is being made.

Another object of the invention is the provision of automatic meanscontrolled by the speed of the drive shaft for regulating the speedratio of the shafts without disengaging the gears, or providing a stepby step change, so that a smooth and gradual change of speed will beprovided. L

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic speed changemechanism which is 'capable of use with water turbines, or othermechanisms where the drive shaft operates at an irregular rate of speedand it is necessary or esirable fortlie driven lshaft to turn at aconstant rate of speed.

i With the above and other objects in view, the invention furtherincludes the following novel features and details of construction, to behereinafter more fully described, illus trated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

, In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating themechanism associated with a drive and driven shaft. A

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the-line 2-2 ofFigure 1. v

Figuie 3 is4 a like view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section'taken Ilongitudinally of thedrive shaft.

Fi re 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation partly broken away/.showing one endof the connecting rod of the pump. y

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the pump valve andits operating mechanism.

i Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse sect-ion on the line 8-8 of Figure7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevation of the upper end of the valve rod.

' Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters ofreference denote.cor

responding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a. ortion of adrive shaft, for example, the rive^ shaft of an automobile engine orother power unit and 11 indicates a driven shaft. The shafts 10 and 11are aligned and their adjacent ends may be con- .nec'ted .as `indicatedat 12 so as to permit of independentf and vrelative rotation. The meetinends of the shafts. 10 and `11 arranged within a suitablehousing 13 andex- 'tend through packing glands 13.

Freely rotatable upon the adjacent ends of the shafts 10g-.1nd 11'is amember 14 which is preferably infthe form of a drum. Thismeniberlcarries countershafts 15, 16 and 17. flhe shaft 15 carries agear 18 and the latter is engaged by a pinion 19 which is rotatable withthe shaft 10. The gear 18 is located fineans hereinafter described)power will vbe transmitted from the drive shaft through the gearing justdescribed to the driven shaft and the latter will be rotated at areduced .f speed due to the difference of ratio between the ear 18 andpinion 19.

ounted upon the shaft 16 is a inion 22 which is of the same ratio as thepinion 19. The pinion 22 engages a gear 23 which is fast upon the shaft17 and which is of a diameter to rotate the shaft 17 at speed less thanthe speed of rotation ofthe shaft 16. Also secured upon the shaft 17upon the outside of the drum 14 is a gear 24 of the same ratio as thegear 23, or any other -suit'- able ratio. The gear 24 engages and drivesthe gear 21 at the same speed as the speed of the shaft 17, the gears-21 and 24 being of equal ratio.

The pinion 19 which is rotated by the shaft 10 is mounted upon one endof a sleeve 25 and this sleeve is splined upon the shaft 10 as shown at26. The opposite end ofthe sleeve 25 is provided with a collar 27 whichyis engaged by the yoke 28 of a shift lever 29, the latter beingpivotally mounted as shown at 30. By means of the eoY lever 29, thesleeve may be moved longi tudinally of the shaft 10 so as to cause thepin1on 19 to engage either the gear 18, or the pinionl 22. Whenengaged`- With they gear 18 the shaft 14 Will be, driven in the samedirection as the shaft 10, but vwhen engaged Withthe pinion 22 thedirection of rotation of the shaft 11 will be reversed to that of theshaft 10. p

The drum 14 is provided upon its circumference with teeth 31, so {thatthis drum pro-l vides a gear which is engaged by a gear 32. This lastmentioned gear is mounted upon a shaft 33 Whichvhas also mountedthereony an eccentric, 34. The eccentric is surrounded by a band 35which carries an arm or rod 36. This rod is connected to a piston orplunger 37 'which operates within al pump cylinder 38 and the latter isprovided with a suction operated check valve 39. A pressure operatedcheck valve 40 provides communication lbetween the cylinder 38 and apassage 41 within which there is located a partition 42. This partitionis provided with a port 43 lwhich is controlled by a valve 44. The steme The arms and 51 carry balls or weights ,5.3. Gutward movement of theballs resisted by a spring 54 Whose tension is adjusted'by an adjustablecollar 55.

The sleeve 47 has secured thereon a worin 56 which is engaged by a wormgear 57 fast upon the shaft 11. p

With the drive shaftv 10 operating at a 'relatively low speed and thepinion 19 engage'd with the gear 18, the drum 14 will be locked against,rotation by engagement of the teeth of thegear 31 with the gear 32 sothat the drive will be through the shaft 15, the gear 20 and the gear 21to the shaft 11, the

' latter rotating at a less speed than that of the shaft 10. As thespeed of the drive shaftl is y increased through acceleration of lthemotor, or other'means, the speed .of the, driven shaft 11 Will becorrespondingly in- "creased.` When the shaft 11 attains a predeterminedspeed which is governed by the tension of the spring 54 of the governor,the

latter will opera-te to lift the valve 44 and permit of a circulation offluid through the l pumpv cylinder 38. Pressure of fluid -Within thecylinder 38 will be relieved, fromthe piston or qplunger 37l so .thatthe latter will "bei permitted to move. This movement is due vthat thegears`18 and 20, which are of a different ratio, Will tend to'lock'witlithe pinion 19 and gear 21. The drum 14 and the gears which are carriedby the drum will thus operate as a unit and the shaft 11 will be rotatedat the same or substantially the same speed as the shaft 10, thedifference in speed being governed by the speed of operation of thepump.

The invention is susceptible of various' changes in its form,proportions and minor details of construction and the right is hereinreserved to make such changes as properly fall Within the scope of the,appended claims.

Having described the inventionr what is claimed is z- 1. In combination,a pair of axially aligned independently rotatable shafts, including adrive shaft and a Idriven shaft, a drum rotatable upon the'adjacent endsof the respective shafts, reduced gearing .including drum carried gearscapable of rotation relative to the drum and. gear carried by each shaftand engaged by the drum carried gears, a shaft, a gear mounted thereon,teeth arranged about the circumference of the drum and meshing with thelast mentioned gear to hold the drum stationary to permit rotation ofthe driven shaft at a less speed than the speed 0f rotation of the driveshaft,

a fluid pump includin a cylinder, a partition dividing the cylin er intoseparate communicating compartments, a normally close-d valvecontrolling said communication and adapted to be opened b Huid pressure,a piston operating in one o said compartments, a piston rod connectedwith the last mentioned shaft, the operation of the pump regulating therotation of said drum, and means including a governor actuated valvecontrolled by the speed of rotation of the driven shaft to control the oeration of the pump.

2. In combination, a pair of axially aligned independently rotatableshafts, including a drive shaft and a driven shaft, a, drum rotatablymounted upon the Yadjacent ends of the respective shafts, reducedgearing including drum carried gears capable of rotation relative to thedrum and gear carried by each shaft and engaged by thedrum cai"- i'iedgears, acircumferentialseries of teeth carried by the drum, a shaft, agear carried thereby and meshing with said `teeth on the drum to holdthe drum against'rotation to permit the driven shaft to rotate at a lessspeed than the speedof rotation of the drive shaft, a Huid pump4including a cylinder divided intoI communicating compartments, a

ioo`

normally closed pressure actuated valve conh trolling saidcommunication, an eccentric 'mounted on the last mentioned shaft, apisreaches a. predetermined speed, and a goverton operating in one ofsaid compartments, nor actuated valve for said rt, controlledv a pistonrod connected with said eccentric; by the speed of rotation of t edriven 'shaft 10 a partition arranged in the other compertto control thepump holding means.

5 ment and provided with a. port, means to In testimony whereof I aiixmy signature.

prevent operation of the pump to hold the vdrum against rotationvuntll`the driven shaft ifi "l l. L E. SANDERSON.

